Patriots: 1st-round 2021 NFL Draft targets after FA spending spree
The New England Patriots have a veteran-laden defensive backfield. If the team is going to go after a position besides the wide receiver position in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, they could very well look to the cornerback position.
It’s not impossible to think that all of Patrick Surtain II, Caleb Farley, and Jaycee Horn could be sitting there when the Patriots are on the clock with the 15th overall selection.
We know obviously that the Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick have a good relationship with Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide, and as an NFL legacy, Surtain is going to be able to transition to the type of program the Patriots run with ease.
Surtain has it all at the cornerback position.
He is 6-foot-2, listed over 200 pounds, he started 38 consecutive games for the Crimson Tide, shut down his opponent more often than not, and was a 1st-team All-American in 2020.
Although he’s certainly not flawless as a prospect (is anyone?) Surtain seems like the kind of playmaker in the secondary who will transition rather easily to the next level and be a steady starter early on in his NFL career.
If the Patriots decide to go with defense as opposed to offense with their top pick, a player like Surtain would be a coup with the 15th overall pick.